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Election Day 2012

Polls Open Until 7 p.m.

In addition to the Presidential election, Alexandrians will vote today on candidates for the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution, and local elections for Mayor, City Council, and School Board. A sample ballot is posted at alexandriava.gov/Elections. Election officials expect a large turnout today. Alexandria election officials and City departments will be prepared. However, lines of voters may still be long, especially during the evening rush hour.

Polls opened at 6 a.m., and will be open until 7 p.m. today. If you haven't cast your ballot yet, here are a few tips to help make your voting experience smooth and easy.

Bring identification. Beginning with the November 6 General Election, Virginia voters will be required to show ID prior to voting. Acceptable ID includes the Virginia Voter Card or Virginia Driver's License. Voters without ID will have to cast a Provisional Ballot, and will have until noon on Friday following the election to present ID to the Voter Registration Office. For more information including a complete list of acceptable IDs, please see the State Board of Elections website.

Confirm your polling place. Virginia election law requires voters to vote in their home precincts, so confirm your voting location. You can do this by checking your voter card, which lists your polling place and address. You can also visit alexandriava.gov/Elections and click on “Am I Registered and Where do I Vote?”

Vote mid-day if possible. Lines at rush hour may be long. To reduce wait time, vote between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Avoid “electioneering.” The State Board of Elections has issued a policy that forbids voters from wearing campaign t-shirts, buttons, caps, or lapel stickers within the polling place. Voters will be asked to remove or cover these types of items until they leave the polling place and are back outside the 40-foot “no campaigning” zone.

Don’t be late! Promptly at 7 p.m., a sworn election officer will be stationed at the end of the voting line to close the polls. If you are in line at that time, you will be permitted to vote. If not, you will not be allowed to vote. It is the law, and precinct workers take an oath to uphold it.